Similar places of mountains in Zhangjiajie park. Zhangjiajie Park or Avatar Mountain - China. Park opening hours and entrance fees

Zhangjiajie Park is a unique nature reserve. On its territory, you can see a real miracle of nature - fantastic rocky landscapes, reminiscent of the floating mountains from the movie "Avatar". It is said that it was the Zhangjiajie cliffs that inspired the filmmakers to depict the Pandora Mountains. Zhangjiajie Park, part of the wider Wulingyuan Conservation Area, is the first park in China to be listed. cultural heritage UNESCO.

In the park, visitors can see thousands of stunning peaks and cliffs of bizarre shapes, dense vegetation, gorges, rivers and waterfalls. This place has become a kind of symbol of Chinese nature, and its unearthly beauty definitely deserves to be paid attention to.

In order to avoid long queues, it is recommended to explore the sights of the park in the opposite direction, that is, not on the way with tourist groups.

• Route 1: Entrance Wulingyuan - take the "Hundred Dragons" elevator to the top of Mount Avatar - Mount Avatar-Yuanjiajie - Tianzi Mountain - Go down the funicular - exit from the park
• Route 2: Entrance to the park - Mount Huangshichzhai (1-3 hours, it is better to go up and down the cable car) - Golden Whip Stream (1-4 hours) - exit

To start the route, you should choose a bus that goes to the Tianzishan area. A cable car leads to Tianzishan Mountain (also called Mountain of the Son of Heaven and Mountain of the Emperor). Such names are not given by chance - from a height of 1182 meters, a gorgeous view of the famous, seemingly floating in the clouds, mountains opens up. The peaks of these mountains form the so-called Stone Forest. The central viewing platforms are always crowded, but if you go down a little further from the main tourist routes, you can find a place to stay alone and take a great photo. In the same places there is a beautiful pagoda - the Palace of the Emperor, which also offers beautiful views.

Snackers will find various Chinese street food eateries along this stretch of the road, as well as McDonald's. To walk through this part of the park, you should lay about an hour and a half.

Next you should take a bus to Yangjiajie. There are practically no people here, however, the natural views are also breathtaking. It should be noted that this area is for true nature lovers. After all, you have to walk not along paved paths, but along paths, which in some places can even be slippery and dangerous. The hiking trails, in turn, are marked with signs and the paths are neatly laid out. Also in this area is an ethnic village called Wu Long, where locals farm according to ancient traditions.

If it will be difficult to climb the mountains, there is an opportunity to use the services of local Chinese, who will be taken to the heights in a special chair made of bamboo. You can spend 2-3 hours in this area.

From Yangjiajie area, from the upper cable car station, take a bus to tourist center Yuanjiajie Park. The landscapes of this park are most often compared to the mountains from the famous film. In this place is the most famous 1080-meter mountain Avatar Hallelujah, which is also called "Lonely standing stone pillar supporting the sky" or "Pillar in the southern sky." The mountain got its name associated with the avatar after the release of the cult film. Here you can also see the highest Natural Bridge in the world (Bridge over the Sky) - a unique natural creation that connects the peaks of two rocks. Its length is 50 meters. The bridge is easy to recognize by the red ribbon with the wishes and locks of lovers. 1.5-2 hours will be enough for these edges.

From Yuanjiajie there is a descent to the Golden Stream. The journey will take an hour and a half, and the road is not too difficult. It is also possible to take a bus to the popular Baylon tourist elevator. The queue for the elevator is always huge, it is easy to spend several hours in it, and the descent itself will take no more than one minute.

This route is suitable for those who come to the park for one day.

When is the best time to go

The best time to visit the park is September and October. In these autumn months, the weather is still quite warm, however, the low season is approaching, and the queues are noticeably shorter.

The high season is from May to September.

April to July is also a good time to visit. The only negative is high humidity and the likelihood of rain (often light) and fog.

It is not worth planning a visit during the Chinese holidays, as well as for the winter, as it can be very cold at this time.

How many days does it take to visit Avatar mountains

It is recommended to set aside two to five days to visit the park. Most should be devoted to Wulingyuan Nature Reserve, where you can leisurely explore the hiking trails. If you have more days to the route indicated above, you can add a visit to the Ten Mile Gallery in Tianzishan, visit the Yellow Rocks Region, where the famous Five Fingers Peak is located, part of Huangshizhai, the "wild" Larvuchang, attractive for photographers, as well as stroll along the most popular tourist route along the Zolotoy Khlyst stream.

Where are the flying mountains in China

The Avatar Mountains are not fictional at all, but actually exist. The Flying Mountains are located in China's Zhangjiajie National Park, which is part of the huge Wulinyuan Nature Reserve. The park, now known as Avatar Park, is located in the northwest of China's Hunan province.

The closest city is Zhangjiajie, although the distance to it is 50 kilometers. Nearby there is also the town of Wulingyuan with all the infrastructure necessary for tourists.

How to get to Zhangjiajie

Getting to the park and the famous Avatar mountains is easy enough.

To do this, you need to fly to Zhangjiajie Hehua Airport, which receives flights from many major cities in China.

The train journey from Beijing or Shanghai will take more than 20 hours, so this option is considered not the most convenient.

Park opening hours

In summer, the park is open from 6.30 am to 6.30 pm, and in winter from 7.30 am to 5.30 pm.

Visit cost

The cost of a ticket to Zhangjiajie Park is 245 yuan - for 4 days. All tickets are registered, and upon purchase you will need to show your passport and be fingerprinted. This price includes all areas of the park, visits to observation decks, as well as travel by bus.

A separate fee is charged for trips by trams, funiculars and lifts. For example, for a ride on the Baylon elevator you will have to pay 72 yuan, and for the Tfnzishan funicular - 134 yuan (a round-trip ticket).

The Wulingyuan Conservation Area includes four parts: Zhangjiajie National Park, Tianzishan Mountain, Yangjiajie Region, and Suoxi Valley. By purchasing a ticket to Zhangjiajie Park, a tourist gets the right to visit all four areas.

Official site

You can always find more information on the official website of the park - www.zhangjiajienationalforestpark.com. Information in English only.

• It is better to come to the park early, as most of the tourists arrive after 10.00.
• It is worthwhile to include more walking and less transportation as the lines are usually huge.
• For long walks, you need comfortable shoes that do not slip.
• All buses and cable cars in the park stop moving one hour before closing time.
• In some parts of the park, there are many monkeys that you need to be careful with: animals can snatch food, bags and phones.
• It is recommended to have cash with you, as cards may not be accepted everywhere.
• It is better to have water, food, raincoat and sunscreen with you.

Zhangjiajie National Park Map

A photo

It turns out that the Avatar mountains really exist and this is not a fiction of James Cameron for his film of the same name. Prototype pandora Mountains mountains in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park - part of the reserve Wulingyuan... After the release of the film, the tourist flow increased so much that in gratitude it was renamed in honor of the film.

Mountains in the Yunjiajie area

Bizarre rocks that rise high into the sky with lonely pillars will not leave you indifferent. The mountains are simply incredible, and if the fog or clouds are still low, they become "soaring".
Zhangjiajie Park and Wulingyuan Scenic Area is the first park in China to receive UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage status. And according to the Chinese system of assessing attractions, it received the highest rating - AAAAA.

Back of the dragon

The mountains were formed back in the Mesozoic era, and over millions of years in the process of weathering and washing out of sandstones and limestones, more than 3000 pointed rocks were formed, the height of many reaches 800-1000 meters. Today, cliffs and mountain crevices are overgrown with abundant vegetation and pine trees. Rivers and lakes, sometimes beautiful waterfalls, flow through deep gorges.
I'm a lover high mountains, and passed more than one mountain range, but these are completely different and completely different from all the others. Even on the Chinese mountains: or. But it is worth noting that here they are more touristy, and you will not have to conquer them, but this makes them no less interesting, and walking along them, you will feel like “on another planet”.

Avatar mountain route in 1 day

We spent 3 days in Zhangjiaze, but the program of the route around the surroundings was very busy, so there was only 1 full day left for Avatar Park itself.

Pagoda at the main entrance

In order not to waste time on long journeys from Zhandjiaze to the reserve, it is most convenient to settle near the central entrance to the National Park in Wulingyuan village and in just 5 minutes of walking, you will be at your goal.

How are the attractions located in the park

Wulingyuan is very popular with travelers and even at 8 am is full of excursion groups, so come even earlier, because the park is open from 6:30 in the morning.

The queue to enter the park at 8 am

This is what the queue looks like at 8 am.
The town works for travelers, so even at 7 am near the park, you will find many open cafes offering breakfast. Of course, it will be a Chinese breakfast, maybe not everyone loves rice konji, but boiled eggs, noodles and steamed rice buns can also be found.

Early morning cafes for breakfast are open

How to see Zhangjiajie Park

To avoid long lines, start exploring in the opposite direction from the excursion crowd. Choosing a bus to the lower cable car station to the area TianZiShan, with the title Lower station of Tanzishan cableway... Tourist groups go straight to the open elevator. Baylon "Bailong", so the queue there is 10 times longer and longer. In the morning we stood for only 15 minutes. on our bus.

Mountains in the Tianzishan region

Taking the cable car up the mountain Tianzishan, also called it mount Emperor, and there is a reason, because the height is 1182 m., and peaks drowning in the clouds form a real Stone Peak Forest.

Stone Peak Forest

The views here are amazing, and there are many Chinese people on the central viewing platforms, but they are surprisingly culturally standing and waiting for their turn to take a fantastic photo. If you go down a little further from the tourist routes, there are noticeably less people, and there are many places where you can stay alone.
It is on this site that there is a beautiful emperor's Palace pagodafrom which the most charming views open. And also McDonald's here, if someone still needs European food.
At the main stops there are many different eateries, water or some kind of snacks you can easily find. If you're not afraid, you can also try Chinese street food, all kinds of steamed rice cakes, sausages or fish balls on skewers, etc. Water, cola, corn - 10 yuan each. Sausages, eggs, steamed bun - 5 yuan each. A large tortilla or sandwich - 15 yuan each.

Rice steamed buns with different fillings

And also strange fruits, we didn't even know all the names.

Outlandish berries

A walk in this part of the park is enough for 1.5 hours.

Then take the bus to Yangjiajie (YangJiaJe)... The nature here is also breathtaking, but there are practically no people. Several paths where you need to climb the mountain, with interesting names - The man praying to the Buddha "The man praying to the Buddha", Step to heaven "One step to the Heaven", The Tiger and the Dragon "The Tiger and The Dragon", The fishing kitten.

Mountain region with few tourists

There is also an ethnic village here Wu long, in which local residents still live and farm according to ancient traditions. Even the evidence for bees is specific here. Although mountain honey is very fragrant, we bought a jar.

In such hives honey is collected in the mountains

If you are tired of climbing the mountains, you can use the services of local Chinese, who, for a fee, will take you to the mountains in a special bamboo chair. Prices, as for a good attraction, 300-400 yuan.

In this chair you will be carried to the mountains

If you have time, you can get off the paved path to an abandoned Chinese house. But then you will have to climb the Yang Jia Je cable Way again, ticket 76 yuan.

Abandoned house in the mountains

Everything tourist routes and the paths are neatly laid and marked with signs, of course you need comfortable shoes, but it's easy to move around.

If you go down far from the main attractions, be careful, the paths are already overgrown with moss and are very slippery from constant humidity, rain or dew. And the slopes, according to the height of the rocks, are very steep.
You can spend 2-3 hours here.

Hallelujah Avatar

From the upper cable car station in the area YangJiaJe by bus we will get to the tourist center in the park - Yunjiajie (YuanJiaJie)... It is here that the same mountain Avatar Hallelujah Mountain or "Stone Pillar - Support of the Sky", the highest Natural Bridge in the world connecting 2 rocks The First Bridge under Heaven.
You will immediately recognize the bridge, because it is all hung with red satin ribbons with wishes and locks of couples in love.

Lucky clasp or wish ribbon

The enterprising Chinese have even opened a kiosk here, where you can immediately buy a ribbon and a lock 😉

The first bridge under the sky

Despite the fact that there are always crowds of Chinese people, from spectacular views, you do not always pay attention to them and consider them already part of the landscape.

Observation deck in Yundzadze

There are already monkeys here, of course, many want to feed these cute creatures, but some of them are impudent and snatch food themselves, and not only, from their hands. Be careful, mobile or lightweight bags can snag.

Wild monkey

In these parts, 1.5-2 hours is enough.

From YunjiaJie you can walk down to Golden Whip Stream, the path is not very difficult, about 1-1.5 hours. Or take the bus to the popular elevator Bailong.

Baylong elevator

The elevator is, of course, an "attraction for visitors", but you will spend much more time in the queue than inside the elevator. They will descend you from a height of 330 m in just 1 minute. The mountains, of course, will be beautiful, but no more.

And most importantly, there is always a huge queue to leave the elevator. We arrived at 5 pm on a weekday, stood for more than an hour on the bus. Judging by the reviews, many people were waiting in line at the elevator for 2-4 hours.

2-hour queue to the elevator

This is the main route for 1 day.

If you plan to spend 2-3 days in the reserve Wulingyuan, you can break everything into parts and walk more hiking trails... Near the mountain TianZiShan visit Ten mile gallery Natural ecological linegoing down from the Pagoda Tianzi Pagoda. Takes about 3 hours. Here, you can also drive on tourist train, cost 38 yuan. And from here take a bus to the Bailong elevator.
Visit part HuangShiZhai or Yellow stone village, which is a little distant.

Lesser-known mountain regions

There is still an unexplored part of the park, the area Laowuchang Area... There are practically no tourists here, so there is complete freedom for photographers.

When is the best time to go to Avatar Park

Reserve Wulingyuan open all year roundbut in February, often after the Chinese New Year, the park is closed for renovation. And in winter, after all, it is not so pleasant to walk in cold mountains, without the opportunity to ski. Due to heavy snowfall, many slopes and observation decks may be closed for safety reasons.
But at this time there are practically no tourists, so there is no need to waste time in queues, and no one will obstruct the snow-covered views at the observation decks. And tickets are cheaper in winter

UNESCO natural heritage

FROM april to June, here begins the season of doges and fogs. But this is its beauty, when a thick fog covers the base of the rocks, mountain peaks they seem to hang in the air and create the effect of "soaring peaks". Although, when a thick fog is not visible at all, even after a couple of meters, in September we got into such a fog on Tianmenshan Mountain, it is a frequent occurrence there.
In summer it is good in the mountains, although it is hot +35, but the breeze will blow you in the shade of trees. Even at this time, high humidity and the largest influx of tourists (although on Chinese holidays May 1-3 and the beginning of October are even more).

Zhangjiajie Park

Optimal season in september and October... We were in mid-September, the weather was perfect, no longer hot or cold. But there are many tourists. With the weather, as luck would have it, a couple of days before our arrival, there were rains, and the tourists could not see anything at all. In the same way, we, the next day, got into the fog on the mountain in Chandzyadze.

How many days does it take to visit Avatar mountains

For the Wulinyuan reserve itself, 1-3 days are enough, it all depends on how in detail you want to consider all the sites.
Due to unpredictable weather and frequent fogs, it is better to have a couple of days more in stock, and there is still a lot to see in these parts. Grand Canyon and the highest Lake Baofeng Lake), Mount Tanmen or (Tianmen mountain National Forest Park) with the longest cable car in the world, National Park Red Stone Geopark, ancient city Fenhuan.
If it rains heavily, you can safely go to "" (Yellow Dragon Cave)the largest cave, we stayed in full of delight from what he saw.
How many days to come to, of course, you decide based on your schedule. In ours, we stayed here 3 full days, but not all had time to see, until the Red Stone forest and the authentic town of Fenhuan did not get there. And judging by the photos on the Internet, they are also very colorful places. So, when planning a route through China today, I would have laid 5 days for the Zhandzyadze area and the surrounding area.

Where are the Avatar mountains

The soaring Avatar mountains are located in China, in the Hunan province, in the Zhangjiaze urban district, in the Wulingyuan village in the reserve of the same name. First you need to get to the nearest transport center, the city of Zhangjiajie.

In the Yundzadze area

How to get to Zhangjiajie

1. By plane

Zhangqiajie can be reached from many Chinese cities. The fastest way is of course by plane, only 2-3 hours on the way from major cities in China and you will arrive in Zhangjiajie Hehua Airport... The airport accepts domestic flights from Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Changsha, Nanjing, Haikou, Henyang, Yinchuan, Chongqing, Wenzhou, Jinan, Shantou.
International flights are still only a few countries: in South Korea - Busan airport, and Thailand - Bangkok airport, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan.
Average ticket prices range from 70 to 130 USD, depending on distance and season.
It takes only 15-20 minutes to get from the airport to the city and a taxi costs 40 yuan. But here, as in many other airports, taxi drivers call an exorbitant price. Therefore, you need to either bargain, or agree in advance with the hotel (provided that they speak English) about the transfer, or book the transfer yourself in advance.
If you decide to go straight to Wulingyuan, where the soaring mountains are, then the taxi will be 200 yuan, because the distance is a little more than 60 km and about 1.5 hours on the road.
You can also get from the airport to the bus station by bus number 4.

View from the observation deck

2. By train

There is a fairly good railway station in Zhangtsiadze, but high-speed trains do not run yet.
It is not very convenient to get from Beijing and Shanghai by train, since you will spend 20-26 hours on the way. And the ticket will cost 60-110 dollars, depending on which carriage you choose.
From the southern cities of China, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Guilin, it is quite convenient to go by night train, it takes about 11-16 hours and a ticket costs from $ 30 to $ 50, depending on the type of carriage.
The fastest train journey is from Changsha, only 4-6 hours.
We traveled by night train from Guilin in 11 hours, the ticket cost only 263 yuan in a 1st class compartment car.
Rather, from Guilin we got to fast train before Liuzhou, only 30 minutes on the way and got on the night train to Zhangjiaze. In Liuzhou, you need to be very careful, as you need to get to another train station Liujiangfrom where high-speed trains depart. Book tickets with a margin of time, as there is 14 km between stations.
It is very easy to find a taxi, there is a whole queue of them if a normal taxi driver comes across, only 30 minutes on the way and the price is 20-30 yuan. If you see that the taxi driver is swinging and the price is completely different, go straight to the policeman at the station and the price immediately changes in the normal direction.
You can communicate with taxi drivers using an electronic translator, in China they were used everywhere, and there were absolutely no problems. Or, if you need to go to the station, immediately show the ticket, all the names of the station and the required terminal are written there, in all languages.

In the Tianzishan Mountains

We booked tickets for all trains in advance on the Internet, and upon arrival in China we received all boarding passes at once, going to the nearest ticket window at the railway ticket office of the first station. You just need to show your reservations and passports.
The Zhangjiajie Railway Station is ideally located for tourists and is a wonderful landmark. Directly in the city center, immediately there is a bus station and the airport is 15 minutes away.
And here is the beginning of the cable car to Mount Tanmen or Heavenly Gate, which is also " must see»In China and in particular in these parts.

3. By bus

You can also get there by bus. There are connections with almost all major cities. But if to go to Beijing and Shanghai for a very long time, a valuable day of vacation is lost, then to the nearest cities like Changsha the bus travels only 5 hours. And to the glorious ethnic town of Fenghuan - 50 minutes.

A bridge in a mountain village

How to get to Wulingyuan

To see the coveted Avatar Mountains, you need to drive to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Wulingyuan Conservation Area.
Today the reserve has 5 entrances, each near the village of the same name.

The main entrances to the park

1. Wujiayu (Wulingyuan Gate) - The main entrance closest to Wulinguan Village, where the main hotels and restaurants are located.
2. Zimugang is the least equipped part of the park, but photographers love it
3. Luoguta (Zhanggiajie National Forest Park Gate) - The closest entrance if you go from Zhangqiatse and from here it is convenient to go to the Golden Whip Stream.
4. Yangjiajie - Not a busy part of the park, with very steep slopes and an abandoned old house
5. Tianzishan (Tianzi Mountain Gate) - If you want to get to Tianzishan Mountain before everyone else, without using the lift.
Distance to various entrances is about 30-60 km.

The most common or main entrance number 1 is Wujiayu (Wulingyuan Gate), the map shows only 42 km, but we drove twice from the station to almost the entrance to the reserve, it was 58 km. They did not drive us in circles, there is nowhere, only 1 expressway. A taxi costs 150 yuan in the afternoon, 180-200 yuan in the evening, 50 minutes on the way.

The bus also runs from central bus station, they work from 6:30 am to 7 pm during the summer. You need bus # 1 or # 21, the journey takes a little over an hour and you will pay immediately on the bus, about 20 yuan. In China, you can pay with WeChat or AliPay everywhere, so you can install the application on your mobile in advance and learn how to use it. It was a novelty for us, so we paid in cash.

Where to stay for a better view of the Avatar mountains

Since the Wulingyuan nature reserve, in which the mountains of interest to us, are located at a fairly large distance from the city of Zhangjiajie, it is best to settle right in the village, near any entrance to the park. Thus, you will save time for the morning transfer to the park (a little over an hour by bus), and in the evening you will also have money for a taxi (about 200 yuan), because the buses stop running at 19:00, and there is a high probability of being late for the last one.
The largest selection of hotels and hostels in Wulingyuan Village, near the main entrance. Also in the village there are enough cafes, shops, ATMs, there is a central bus station.

Streets in Wulingyuan

Almost all hotels and hostels do not offer breakfast, but this is not a problem. After all, the area is tourist, and in the early morning cafes offering breakfasts are already open everywhere. There are especially many of them when approaching the main entrance to the park.
Of course, you can stop at any other entrance to the park, but the infrastructure there is more modest, basically only hostels and there is no such choice of dishes in cafes, basically only all kinds of "nudels" - noodles, in our opinion.
It is quite sad with the cultural program in the evening in distant villages, where there is nothing to do except stay in a hotel or a nearby cafe.
There is even a theater in Wulinyuan, show "Charming Xiangxi" grand show, starting at 19:00, ticket price - 228-308 yuan. The show is quite spectacular, a lot of dances and acrobatics, based on folk legends and traditions.

Ancient Chinese raincoat

Be sure to go to local restaurants in the evening, there are so many unusual dishes, it's good at least there are pictures on the menu. Unfortunately, dishes from rare animals were also on the menu.

The most popular hostel right next to the entrance to the reserve was this hostel. According to reviews, clean, great service and most importantly, English speaking staff. On average, a room costs from $ 15.

We stayed at this hotel, also very close to the Wulingyuan main entrance, clean and excellent staff. We were given a map and, having learned our preferences, we painted a route, how best to walk in Zhanzyadze Park. We were also prompted to deliver luggage to a hotel in Chandzyadze the next day. It costs only 20 yuan per suitcase. Also, the administrator filled in all the addresses in Chinese. A full room for two, with a view of the mountains, cost $ 26. Zhandzyadze, then I recommend this hotel, the price is $ 26 or this hotel, the price is $ 19. Both hotels are located in the center, close to the Tianmenshan ski lift and next to the train station. Also in both hotels the staff speaks English.

2019 ticket prices for Wulingyuan

The park is huge and in order to see a larger or better part of it in 1-2-3 days, it is better to come as early as possible.
In summer, the park is open from 6:30 am to 6:30 pm
IN winter time from 7:30 to 17:30
4 days ticket - 245 yuan, annual subscription - 298 yuan. The ticket is personalized, when you buy you show your passport and at the entrance they take a fingerprint, so do not confuse the ticket when you enter the next day.
The buses running through the park are included in the ticket price, and you can change to any of them as many times as you like.
But here is additional transport or entertainment, you need to pay separately.

Cable car

Huangshi Fort Cable Car (Yellow Stone Village) - one way 65 yuan, both 118 yuan.
Cable car to Tianzishan mountain (TianZi Mountain) - 72 yuan
Yangjiadze cable car (YangJi Je) - 76 yuan
Tourist train along the 10-mile gallery (Ten-mile gallery Sightseeing tram) - one way 38 yuan, round trip - 52 yuan
Bailong elevator - 72 yuan
Charming Xiangxi Show - from 228 to 308 yuan
Yellow Dragon Cave (Huanglong Cave) - 100 yuan
Baofeng Lake - 96 yuan
Museum of Technology and Science (Dani Science and Technology Museum of Zhangjiajie)- 98 yuan

1. You need comfortable footwear for long walks, preferably non-slip shoes. Of course, almost all the paths are paved with steps. But sometimes, if you go down further from hiking trails, the steps are covered with moss and are very slippery.
2. Remember that all buses and cable cars stop moving one hour before the park closes. So if you climbed high, you have to go down on your own.
3. Of course, on the territory of the reserve there are cafes and food stalls. But this is only near major stops. It is advisable to take water and some snacks with you, suddenly you will go far from civilization.
4. In some parts of the park there are many monkeys, they are aggressive and take all food, as well as cameras and bags.
5. In summer, it is hot enough, so apply sunscreen, mosquito spray to open skin areas. Also take a panama hat and glasses. In winter, keep yourself warm. After all, climbing the mountains, the temperature is even cooler. Even in the mountains, the weather often changes, from sunny very quickly it turns into rainy. It will be good if you bring waterproof clothing
6. Avoid queues for morning transport to main viewpoints. This also applies to buses to the park from the city. Especially avoid the Bailong elevator in the morning and in the evening, there are always queues for several hours, and at rush hour and 4 hours you can stand for the pleasure of a ride in 1 minute. Better to take a different route and go down.
7. Take a card at the hotel, they will be distributed free of charge. Ask to plot the most interesting places for you. It is very easy to get around on buses in the park, either look for the name in English where the bus is heading, or show the driver where you need to go on the map.
8. In China, few people speak English, but now there were no problems with the help of an electronic translator, all Chinese use it. Download in advance a Chinese dictionary from Google Translate that works even without the Internet. Maps.me - download a map of the area in advance, also works offline. If you need the Internet, use it better, since the Chinese SIM card bans many of our popular sites and programs
9. When you print out your hotel reservation, also print the Chinese version to facilitate understanding with the drivers. At the same time, the name of the attractions is, if possible, in Chinese translation, and even better, just a picture.
10. In China, Visa and Master Card are not accepted everywhere, they have their own Union Pay system. So it is more convenient to always have cash or use the WeChat or AliPay payment system. With these systems, you can immediately pay from your smartphone anywhere, even in a minibus, bus and at the souvenir market.
11. When buying tickets, they almost always ask for a passport. Therefore, you need to carry it with you, a photocopy does not help.

Enjoy your trip and be sure to leave comments if you liked the mountains 😉

Or Tianmenshan Park, you need to fly to the Zhangjiajie airport of the same name and from there get to the parks themselves. In this article I will tell you in detail how to get there, where to stay to visit the appropriate park and what to look for when planning a route.

A detailed description of Zhangjiajie National Park can be found at.

In order not to get confused, for a start, let's sort it out geographical names... There are 5 objects of the same name with the name Zhangjiajie:

1. Zhangjiajie County (Chinese: 张家界 区). A region that includes the northwestern part of Hunan province.
2. Zhangjiajie Airport (Chinese: 张家界 荷花 机场).
3. The city of Zhangjiajie (Chinese. 张家界 市), which is 3 kilometers from airport and from where the cable car to Tianmenshan Park originates.
4. located 35 kilometers north of cities.
5. Zhangjiajie village (Chinese. 家界). Located at the southern entrance to zhangjiajie national park.

And there are 2 objects of the same name with the name Wulingyuan:

1. The Wulingyuan Mountains (Ch. 武陵源), which are part of the Wulingshan mountain system. They are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
2. Wulingyuan Village (Ch. 武陵源, 东南 门), located at the southeastern entrance to zhangjiajie national park.

How to get to Zhangjiajie

From Russia, the most convenient way to get there is through Guangzhou, Shanghai, Wuhan or Beijing. China Southern and Air China fly. There are also trains, but it takes much longer.

We had a route Beijing - Zhangjiajie (8268 rubles per person), Zhangjiajie - Guangzhou (4137 rubles per person). When buying a ticket, it is important not to confuse the name. I almost bought a ticket to another city when I booked the flight. After all, the names are somehow the same for a Russian-speaking person, so if you are looking for how to get to Zhangjiajie and which airport you need to fly to, then please note that you need Dayong Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport (Chinese 张家界 荷花 机场), and the code airport should be - DYG.

By the way, the landing at Zhangjiajie airport was the toughest in my entire flight history. It seems that the captain of the plane tried to measure himself at a height of 3-4 meters where it is better for him to sit, and at some point he got tired and he just collapsed as it is. The airport itself is very small, located 3 kilometers from the city of Zhangjiajie.

Where to stay if you need to visit Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

If you are going to visit there are 3 places to stay:

• In the park itself. There are many mini hotels and hostels on the territory of the park itself. The amenities are minimal.
• In the village of the same name Zhangjiajie near the southern entrance to the park. But if you are going to enter the park through this entrance, it will take longer to get to the main attractions.
• In the small town of Wulinyuan near the southeast entrance. This option is the most optimal. From here it is closer to the main attractions and you can choose a good hotel.

There are only 2 good quality hotels in Wulinyuan: Zhangjiajie Pullman (Chinese 张家界 京 武 铂 尔曼 酒)) and Qinghe Jinjiang International Hotel (Chinese 张家界 青 和 锦江 国际 酒). Before the trip I chose between them for a long time. The decisive role in the choice of the latter was played by the declared free airport transfer when booking a deluxe room category. Wrote to the hotel about my flight 3 times. As a result, no one met. We agreed with a taxi driver from Zhangjiajie Airport to a hotel in Wulingyuan for 150 yuan without a meter. Upon arrival at the hotel, I had a little scandal about the transfer, but everyone apologized very much, said that when we checked out, they would take us free of charge to wherever we said. They kept their word.

With regard to accommodation. On the booking desk, a deluxe room with a beautiful view is declared on floors 7-8, but the hotel has only 7. Dali is on the 6th. The view from the window is so-so, especially if it is foggy. Price for two nights with breakfast: 1738 yuan. Deposit: 761 RMB.

The breakfasts are good, but not enough European and American cuisine. In the restaurant great service, smile, see off to the table, ask about preferences. All Chinese sutra wrap up spicy noodle soup early, and mix different spices, sauces and herbs in a "do it yourself" manner, well, I decided not to be different - I went up to the Chinese, gave my plate and with a gesture asked him to make me their "megasuper" ... A couple of minutes of shenanigans with spoons and "noodles" and now I'm sitting at the table, eating breakfast in China and fucking with how hot it is !!!

What else can be said about the hotel. The staff is very courteous, especially the head manager with glasses: every time he asked if everything was in order, what plans for visiting the parks, tried to give advice on how to plan a route. You know, in some places the staff was even very intrusive. It seemed to me that even when I was in the toilet, this guy with glasses was about to appear and ask me: “Mister, Arthur, are you all right? Is there enough toilet paper?

The location of the hotel, although 20 minutes walk from the eastern entrance to the park, is the farthest hotel. There are hotels closer to the entrance.

Wulinyuan is a small tourist town consisting of several streets lined with various shops, boutiques and cafes. The soul demanded piquancy, so after visiting the park, we decided to try street food. We're in China, why not? Chicken feet, local crayfish, octopuses and some other incomprehensible garbage. Everything is delicious, spicy, everyone is alive and well.

Where to stay if you need to visit Tianmenshan Park

If you are going to visit Tianmenshan Park and Tiananmen Mountain, then the best option would be to stay in Zhangjiajie city itself, because right from the city center starts the longest high-altitude funicular in the world, which will take you straight to the park.

Hotel prices are quite affordable here, but there is no high level. We booked the first hotel available (Shang Ke You Hotel) a few days in advance with a decent rating and a round bed in the room for RMB 189.

Zhangjiajie city is small. It is pierced like an arrow by a 4-lane road.

In some places in the side streets you can see a typical picture of Chinatowns, a bunch of signs, street stalls.

The Lishui River runs within the city limits, there is an embankment for walking. Many do exercises. In general, Chinese pensioners are great. That's where you will find grandmothers with us who will so deftly throw their legs on the railing and stretch?

If you move from the funicular along Yingbin Road, then after passing through the bridge and turning to the left you can find the main street with squares. The density of people here is off scale! Many shopping centers, shops, pharmacies, banks. Fruits, vegetables, and some kind of dried gizmos are also sold here on the shelves.

Sales are everywhere in stores.

Somewhere here we managed to have dinner. They ordered it is not clear what, they just poked at the pictures, since there was no menu in English. As a result, they brought pork ears, Chinese rice vodka, a bucket of incomprehensible food and a bowl of chicken soup. The soup turned out to be a surprise in the form of a chicken head and legs with claws. Rice vodka for a big fan. The establishment has round tables with a revolving tray in the middle. Convenient for companies when they order a lot of dishes.

The city of Zhangjiajie turned out to be a tourist city, although the tourists are mostly only the Chinese themselves. There isn't much to do here in the evening. Well, if you just watch TV.

Leaving the restaurant, we set off at a leisurely pace towards our mini hotel. Tourists dispersed, sellers are gradually curtailing trade, the city is empty. Zhangjiajie slowly prepare for bed.

Ladies and gentlemen, I want to introduce you to a unique place in central China's Hunan province, which served as the inspiration for the world famous movie Avatar. Welcome to lost World Pandora's - Zhangjiajie National Park!

Wulingyuan Nature Reserve

Zhangjiajie Park, established in 1982, is recognized as the first authorized national forest park in China. It is located in the most picturesque Wulingyuan Scenic Area (к 名胜 区), a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here water and wind have created about three thousand peaks of bizarre forms, consisting of sandstone and quartz. The picturesque area boasts natural beauty, where mountains, valleys, forests, caves, lakes and waterfalls coexist in perfect harmony. To tell the truth, it was this place that served as the main reason for the trip to China. I really love nature in its original form, so while looking for something that could impress no worse, I found my treasure and began to pave.

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (Ch. 张家界 国家 森林 公园) belongs to the Wulingyuan nature reserve and includes 4 zones:

• Suosi Valley (Suoxi Gully, Chin. 索溪峪)
• Yuanjiajie (Chinese 袁家界 风景区)
• Yangjiajie (Chinese 杨家界 风景区)
• Tianzi Mountain (Chin. 天子山)

Other objects located outside the park also belong to Wulingyuan Nature Reserve:

• Baofeng Lake
• Yellow Dragon Cave (Huanglong Cave, 黄龙 洞)
• King Long Wang Dong's Cave (龙王 洞)

A few kilometers south of the city of Zhangjiajie (not to be confused with Zhangjiajie Park) there is another chic park - Tianmenshan. It does not include the Wulingyuan protected area, but it is no less unique place, but it will be discussed in the next post.

In 2016, another one was opened 20 kilometers northeast of Zhangjiajie Park. interesting place - Grand Canyon with a completely transparent bridge. When it opened, it became the longest and tallest glass bridge in the world.

For convenience, I have provided information on how to get to Zhangjiajie and where to stay. But here I will note once again that if you are planning to visit Zhangjiajie National Park, then it would be best to stop at the southeast entrance in the village of Wulingyuan of the same name (Wulingyuan, Southeast Gate, Ch. 武陵源, 东南 门) the day before. Just below on the map below, it is marked as Entrance B.

Well, let's go see the great creation of nature? From our hotel to the southeastern entrance to the park 25 minutes walk or 5 minutes by taxi. In order not to waste time, we catch a taxi for 10 yuan to the park.

How much is a ticket to Zhangjiajie National Park?

There are 2 types entrance tickets:

• For 4 days. Entrance fee is 248 yuan for an adult, 163 yuan for benefits.
• For 8 days. Entrance fee is 301 yuan for an adult, 196 yuan for privileged persons.

Notes:

• The discount ticket can be used by children from 1.2 to 1.5 meters in height, students under 24 years old, pensioners aged 60-70 years.
• For persons with a 1st or 2nd group of disabilities and pensioners over 70 years old, the cost of an entrance ticket for 3 days is 60 yuan, for 7 days - 80 yuan.
• The free ticket is provided to Chinese military personnel, journalists and children up to 1.2 meters tall.

When buying, your finger is scanned, so if you come the next day, it will be enough to put your finger on the turnstile. Together with the tickets, they give a map of the park with routes and stops. You can move around the park between the main points on free shuttle buses that run every 10-15 minutes. Bus stops at major attractions are marked with a “P” on the map below. I will write the cost of tickets for additional transport in the process of describing the route.

Park opening hours

• The park is open every day from 07.00 to 18.00
• Funicular opening hours up from 07.30 to 16.00, down from 07.30 to 18.00
• Buses run from 07.00 to 18.00

Zhangjiajie National Park Map

For convenience, I am posting a map of Zhangjiajie National Park

Zhangjiajie National Park Visiting Route

The park is divided into upper and lower plateaus, between which you can travel by funiculars and a huge elevator in the rock. There are many routes, including hiking trails. We took 1 full day to visit the park, so we decided to move clockwise.

We go into the park, take a bus and go to the railway station, where the first stop awaits us - Ten-mile Natural Gallery, China. 十里画廊), located in the northwestern part of the Suoxi Valley at the foot of Tianji Mountain . Small railroad 5.8 kilometers long (marked in gray on the map) runs through picturesque landscapes of unusual rocks. The journey takes 10 minutes. Round-trip travel RMB 52 per person. If you don't want to spend money, then there is a path nearby, a walk along which will take no more than 30 minutes.

On both sides, many peaks look like statues, as if carved by someone. The most famous peak is Herb Collecting Old Man ит 采药 老人 图片... He is a symbol of this valley and looks like an old man with a basket on his back, collecting medicinal herbs.

Not far from the herbal picker, you can also see a towering peak, which, according to the locals, resembles a man with crossed legs, and near him a series of smaller ones. This composition is called Immortals Worshipping Guanyin (Chinese 观音 十里画廊)... According to legend, it is said that the highest peak is the deity Guanyin, and 19 people are worshiped nearby, asking for mercy to this world and blessing people with a happy life.

At the final stop you can see Three sisters (Chinese 三 姐妹).

Admire the monkeys living in the cage.

And invest the first money in the Chinese economy by looking at the various stalls that sell Chinese herbs, postcards, wood and glass products. Having bought a wooden fruit basket, we return back by train and go to the bus stop.

The next item is bailong elevator (China 百 龙 电梯)... It is located in the area Yuanjiajie and is installed in the mountain of the same name, and Bailun itself translates as "one hundred dragons" and is considered the tallest external elevator in the world, its height is 326 meters. When you approach this structure, your legs give way, and the lens cannot completely fit it into one shot.

We go upstairs. The cost of the lift is 72 yuan per person. On the way to the elevator, there are posters from the movie "Avatar".

The ascent takes 2 minutes. At first, part of the ascent takes place in the rock, but then this height opens up to the eye and you no longer know what to do, whether to photograph, or to be afraid. If you exit the elevator and turn right, you can find a steep observation deck on the elevator itself.

After a little admiring the views and fashionable Chinese slippers with pandas, we moved on to the bus stop, already at an altitude of more than three hundred meters.

Arriving at one of the most important points in the park, McDonalds was discovered. Suddenly. But we decided to support a local producer and tried an unknown fruit for us - yangmey, Chinese strawberry tree or mountain peach. Juicy and tasty.

So, the walking path lies along the cliff. In some places there are observation platforms from where breathtaking panoramas open up. Where the views are especially good, there are platforms for photographers who will take a picture for you for a fee.

The weather was far from sunny, sometimes a white shroud enveloped the mountains. Moreover, it is not clear whether these are clouds, or fog, however, one way or another, all this added some mysticism to the picture, visually it seemed that the mountains were soaring, and you were as if on another planet, as if in truth now blue would jump out from somewhere little men. And here, by the way, they are.

Having overcome a few more hundred meters, we came to the most important exhibit. Mount Jiankunzhu (Qiankunzhu, Chinese 乾坤 柱) more than a kilometer high and consisting of quartz sandstone, it translates as the column of the Southern Heaven and has a deep philosophical meaning.

Qian (䷀) - the first trigram in the ancient Chinese philosophy I-Ching, a symbol of the masculine principle, sky, sun, father, husband, fortress.
Kun (䷁) is the second trigram in the ancient Chinese philosophy I Ching, a symbol of the feminine principle, earth, moon, mother, wife, subject.
Zhu - pillar, column.

Having deciphered the trigrams, we get another name "The Column Between Heaven and Earth", which, in my opinion, sounds much better.

In 2010, commerce defeated philosophy when Western media spread information that this mountain formed the basis for the creation of the planet Pandora from the movie Avatar. After some time, in order to develop tourism, the mountain was given a new name - Avatar Hallelujah Mountain, Chinese 阿凡 达 - 哈利路亚 山... And then they came up with an inviting slogan: "Pandora is far away, and Zhangjiajie is close!"

However, despite the fact that the park is promoted at the international level, in fact we were the only Europeans walking in this park. By the way, my girlfriend is blonde, and during these 2 weeks in China she was a celebrity. Here, too, every 10-15 minutes, they tried to either settle down to us so that we could get into someone's lens, or openly asked to be photographed together.

Further on our way - The First Natural Bridge under Heaven (Ch. 天下第一 桥)... It connects two peaks at an altitude of 360 meters and is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the tallest natural bridge in the world.

On the bridge, lovers can buy a lock for 40 yuan, ask them to carve names and hang it, and throw the key into the abyss. They say that after that the family will be happy and strong. True, finding a place for your lock will not be easy - the railings and stairs are closely bound by thousands of locks. It seems to me that from time to time they are filed.

Having passed to the end of the path, we come out to another stop. Here we also found a post office, but my attempts to find out whether our postcards will reach Russia were unsuccessful.

To get to the next attraction, which is already in a different area Yangjiajienext to the funicular of the same name, we get off at the next stop "WuLong Village" and set off for a short trekking. First we go down, and then at the T-shaped intersection we turn up to the right. Compared to previous trails, this is a rather steep climb, and some of the stairs seem to be about to fall apart.

But at the end of the ascent, a surprise awaits us - Tianbo Mansion (Tianbo Mansion, Ch. 天波 府)... From here, an amazing panorama of Great natural wall stone pillars (The Natural Great Wall). Distinctive feature of this place are narrow and high natural rock walls, different from the typical pillars.

After that we go down back to the T-shaped intersection and go already in the opposite direction to the next observation deck, which is called One Step to the Heaven (Ch. 一步登天).

I will say that the first one was more interesting. Although it is also beautiful, after spending half a day in the park you already start to get used to it and the “wow-effect” disappears a little. Some even manage to sleep.

We return back to the bus stop and go to the area Tianzi to the final attractions to date. The Highest Peak of Mount Tianji, also called Mountain Son of Heaven, is the highest point in the park, at 1182 meters. Friends, just look at this beauty!

Well, let's plunge into history a little? Mountain Tianzi before the reign of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) was called "Qing Yan Mountain". In 1353, Xiang Dakun, the leader of the Tujia ethnic group, started a rebellion in the area and declared himself Tianji, which means Son of Heaven and is a traditional synonym for the Chinese emperor. In 1385, Xiang Dakong faced a fierce siege by an army commanded by Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang (1328-1398), the first emperor of the Ming dynasty we have already heard of. Sadly, Xiang died in the battle and fell into Shentang Bay. To show their respect for Xiang Dakun, the settlements were rebuilt and the mountains were named after Tianji. Legend has it that sometimes the sounds of drums, neighing horses and shouts of people can be heard from the canyon, as if an ancient medieval battle is still going on somewhere below!

Confuses nothing? Correctly. There is no bay here. So called Valley of Heavenly Abode (Shentang Gulf, Chin. 神堂 湾)where we headed. In order not to go in the opposite direction, you need to ask the driver to stop a little earlier than the last stop. In the heart of the gorge there is a dark pool and there is only one way there - a terrible staircase, as if leading into an abyss. Shentan Bay still remains untouched by human footprints, like a mythical labyrinth with a bottomless gorge that bathes in fog all year round. And again, mesmerizing panoramas make us freeze for a moment in order to capture this extraordinary beauty forever in our memory.

At the final stop of the main route, we get to he long Park (Chinese 贺龙 公园)named after the Chinese revolutionary Marshal He Long. The Tianji area was one of the places of his fighting in the 30s. In these parts, he organized a Soviet Red Army of more than 200,000 men and in 1935 joined Mao Zedong to support him in the uprising. He subsequently led the guerrilla forces in Northwest China in both the Chinese Civil War and the Sino-Japanese War, and was generally successful in expanding communist control. By the end of 1945, he was commanding a force of 170,000 troops. After the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, he held a number of civil and military positions, and in 1955 he was awarded the honorary title of Marshal (there are 10 in China) for his invaluable contribution to the victory of the Communist Party. To perpetuate the memory of the great Marshal, at the 90th birthday celebration in 1986, the Zhangjiajie city government established a park and erected a seven-meter bronze statue weighing about 9 tons. It is the largest in China.

Passing the bronze statue, we find ourselves on Emperor's platform (Tianzi Sightseeing platform, Chinese 天子 观景 台), from which the next breathtaking landscapes open. Of course, nature creates amazing things, somewhere it has created huge canyons, somewhere a magnificent ensemble of rivers and lakes, but here it is hard to imagine where these isolated mountains came from, which seem to stand on a thin leg, and are waiting for something. After 10 minutes, this beautiful picture was again covered with a white veil. The weather here is completely unpredictable. It is believed that best time to visit Zhangjiajie it is spring and autumn.

There was not much time left before the closure of the park, the shuttles stopped running at 18.00, and we still need to go down the funicular, so we make the last dash towards the pagoda, which is called Pavilion of the Son of God (Tianzi Pavilion, Chin. 天子 阁)... Here you can also have a snack, buy souvenirs, or even go inside.

Further from the pagoda, a long hiking descent into the Suosi Valley starts (remember, we started with it at the very beginning?). Of course, we will not go down it, but we will only go down a couple of hundred meters to capture the final and one of the most important attractions of the park - Imperial Writing Brush Peaks or Yu Bi Feng, Chinese 御笔 峰. These are free-standing sandstone columns surrounded by mountainous green peaks. The tops of more massive peaks flow smoothly into thinner ones. The name Yubi Feng comes from the brush used by the imperial calligrapher, where the thicker end becomes a thin brush. Legend has it that the stone tassels belong to the same king of Xiang. They say that it was these places that served as the reason for the park to be included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Well, it's time to return to the ground, for this we will head towards He Long Park and take another bus that takes us to the upper station of the Tianzi cable car (Ch. 天子山 索道, which costs 67 yuan per person). And finally, probably, Zhangjiajie wants to tell his visitors: "You still have not realized all my majesty and power? So get a flight around my planet!"

Time flew by here unnoticed. Of course, one day to explore the park is not completely enough, but to be honest, more days are not needed either, especially considering that there are other attractions in the vicinity, but Zhangjiajie Park will definitely be included in the top of the most amazing places on the planet that I happened to see. Such places will be remembered for a lifetime and give rise to inspiration and a passion for travel inside.

Zhangjiajie Park rocks

Highlights

The beauty of this part of the Wulingyuan mountain range was also appreciated by European tourists. They are encouraged to plan their travels in the fall and spring, with the exception of early May and October, when national holidays are celebrated in China and crowds of tourists fill the park. In the summer, at the peak of the season, it is also very crowded here: if it is still possible to find deserted corners while walking in the park, then squeezing into a crowded bus or being left without a place to spend the night due to overlaps with booking is below average pleasure. In winter, the rocky peaks look unusually impressive, but walking along the snow-covered mountain paths is simply dangerous.

The Zhangjiajie National Park was especially popular with James Cameron's film Avatar, where he acted as the scenery for the planet Pandora. It is from the unusual rocks of the park, thanks to special effects, that fantastic mountains soaring in the air were created. To attract tourists and as a token of gratitude to Cameron for advertising, the Chinese in 2010 officially renamed the 1080m South Celestial Column to Avatar Hallelujah Mountain.

Stills from the movie "Avatar" by James Cameron

History of the name Zhangjiajie

Chinese scientists offer several variants of the etymology of the name of the park, but most serious historians are inclined to believe that the name of Zhang Liang is hidden in it. This disgraced aristocrat played a prominent role in the formation of the Han dynasty, but was forced to hide in the vicinity of the future reserve together with his family in the II century BC. Here he died and was buried - this information is reliable, it is confirmed by numerous written sources. Then the legends for gullible tourists begin: guests of the region are still shown several graves of Zhang Liang in different parts of Hunan. The "main" of them is located not far from the village of Zhangjiajie near the borders of the park.

National park in numbers

Initially, in 1982, the park occupied a modest area of \u200b\u200bonly 4,810 hectares. After 10 years, the Wulingyuan Mountains, and with them the Zhangjiajie, were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. After receiving international recognition, its size increased to 130 sq km. It accommodates 243 mountains. The average height of the rocks is 800 m, but there are also almost three-kilometer giants. The most popular observation deck, Huangshi, rises 1300 m above sea level, with exactly 3800 steps leading to it. 19.4 m - the height of the largest stalagmite in Huanglong Cave.

Zhangjiajie rocks - a unique natural monument

At first glance, the rocks resemble easily crumbling limestones, but their nature is completely different. The mountains, resembling giant figured candles, appeared as a result of the weathering of quartz sandstones and the destruction of plant roots, which, due to the high humidity in Zhangjiajie, are innumerable. They use the slightest opportunity to seize new territories: the slightest ledge is enough to be immediately occupied by green growth. The tops of the cliffs are covered with dense coniferous caps. When fog comes to the mountains, and in Zhangjiajie this happens with enviable regularity, a complete illusion of giant stone fragments floating in the air is created.

999 steps on Tianmen Mountain

Main tourist routes

Zhangjiajie National Park has many hiking trails for all tastes, but there are some must-see sites. First of all, this is the Huangshi observation deck and the Golden Whip spring, stretching 7.5 km in length - real paradise for plants. The sights are connected by a cable car, but there are no bus routes nearby, and the entire load during the three-hour walk will fall on the feet of travelers. At the end of the Golden Whip there is a Baylong observation elevator - it is approached by highways.

Glass Flooring Roads

On the Tianmen Mountain, to the top of which there are 999 steps, the Heavenly Gate was built. Roads with glass floors are laid for the strong in spirit: the tickling sensations of crossing an abyss are difficult to convey in words.

As an alternative to those who are not ready to move a lot, they offer the Yuanzhazhe area with a spectacular Enchanting terrace. A little more crossings await guests of the park in the central zone. Crowds of tourists enter the territory during the day, in the morning and in the evening there are relatively few people. Unaccompanied night walks are not recommended for safety reasons as the park is not lit.

Yellow Dragon Gorge

The observation deck is not for the faint of heart

The flora and fauna of the reserve

Zhangjiajie is primarily a zoological, botanical and geological reserve and only then a natural attraction for tourists. Scientists have discovered more than 500 species of animals here, including monkeys and predatory civets, trying to stay away from humans. Travelers will remember the fan-shaped leaves of gingko - a valuable breed that came to us from the Permian period. Animals, insects and reptiles dangerous for tourists are not observed.

Natural park population

On Tianmen Mountain

Despite the difficult reliefs, the first human settlements appeared in Zhangjiajie 100 thousand years ago. In the historical era, neighbors with some prejudice treated the tribes inhabiting this area, calling them "rude people", however, Tujia, Bai and Miao did not seek to imitate the Han and retained many elements of national costumes and some ancient customs to our time. Modern representatives of these peoples successfully earn money by serving tourists: they sell food and souvenirs, work as rickshaws, and rent out corners in village houses.

Zhangjiajie Park

Information for tourists

Getting to the natural park is quite difficult even for Chinese from other regions, but the result is worth it. Anyone who can withstand the many hours of travel to Zhangjiajie County may think that they have almost reached their destination. Buses and trains with transfers run from all parts of China, travelers from Beijing and Shanghai are preferable to use an airplane. Upon arrival in the city, the tourist has two options: take a taxi and independently negotiate the route with the driver, not forgetting that English is not in use here.

Spectacular views

The second option is to trust public transport. A city bus runs from the bus station, which will take guests to one of the three park entrances in about an hour. At a cost, it is 5-10 times cheaper than a taxi - 11-12 yuan. The easiest way to navigate the stations and entrances to the reserve is with a map, which is sold at the tourist office at the railway station. For Russian-speaking tourists, a map with English names is suitable. Most of the signs in the park and on the approaches to it are written in Chinese and English, in other cases: in restaurants and hotels - travelers are encouraged to use gestures.

Where to stay

Lake Baofen

Inspecting the park in a day is an impossible task, so tourists are advised to stay in a village under the name Zhangjiajie, typical for this area, so as not to travel from the city. Most of the residents of this village are engaged in the tourism business, so you can find good compact hotels and decent food here. Accommodation is provided in the park itself, however, it is intended for unpretentious guests who do not require much comfort, although there is a hot shower in the rooms and the Internet is present. But those who have settled down for the night in the reserve will not have to stand in a long line in the morning wishing to get inside Zhangjiajie.

National park hotels

Experienced tourists warn that even on weekdays, when there are not too many people, it takes at least 2 hours to wait for everyone who got up early to pass.

"On the ground"

The cost of housing in the park is quite affordable: one place in a common room will cost 40 yuan, in a double room - 120 yuan, but guests who know how to bargain will drop the price by a third. You can eat in rather expensive restaurants at hotels or buy food at markets near bus stations. There, guests will be offered uncomplicated fried potatoes, flat cakes, fish.

The cost of walking in the park

Zhangjiajie at night

Entrance to the territory of Zhangjiajie National Park is paid, there are two types of tickets. The first one is designed for a two-day stay and costs 245 yuan, sometimes conditions change, and for the same amount they offer 3 days. A weekly ticket costs a little more at 298 yuan. Visitors over 70, teens and young adults under 24 with a valid student ID pass at discounted rates of RMB 160 and RMB 193, respectively. Children up to 120 cm tall will enter the park for free. The ticket entitles you to bus trips inside the park. It is worth taking advantage of this advantage, since it is difficult to overcome steep ascents and descents on foot.

Some services are paid additionally: travel on a miniature train, as if transferred here from an average amusement park, ascents and descents on the Bailong elevator, built right in the rock. They cost up to RMB 80 per action. Buses do not run along the Golden Whip, but agile rickshaws scurry along the paths trodden by numerous visitors. Their services are not cheap: one "race" costs at least 300 yuan.

Winter in Zhangjiajie Baylong elevator

How to save money while traveling in the park

Inside Zhangjiajie, tickets are not checked very actively, so you can live there on a two-day pass longer than the paid period, if you do not leave the reserve. Alternative hiking trails are always provided bypassing the lifts. In order to climb and descend without stress, you need good physical preparation, since the plateau on which the reserve lies rises above the surrounding landscape by 300 meters. In addition, hiking trip will take about the same amount of time as standing in line at the elevator. You can also save money on accommodation: locals rent rooms cheaper than in a hostel, but you will also have to negotiate with them with gestures.

How to dress and what to take with you

When purchasing an admission ticket, you can ask for the luggage to be delivered to the selected hostel if the place is booked in advance. It is physically difficult to carry bags around the territory; there are no flat areas in the reserve. Shoes are chosen to be comfortable, with non-slip soles, as it often rains in Hunan. It doesn't hurt to bring a jacket or raincoat with you. By the way, the constant cloudiness of Zhangjiajie Park does not interfere with photography, on the contrary, it creates a unique visual effect of traveling in the clouds. Drinking water is sold in different parts of the park, but outside of it it is somewhat cheaper.

Heavy fog is common in Zhangjiajie